((A/N: Hiya, just a really quick update since I left a really annoying cliffhanger last time and I don't know when I can update again.
athenakitty: Agh! Questions ahoy! Heh, okay, umm, let's see. Read and find out! But hey, sometimes questions give me ideas as to what to do next in the story.
leggylover03: Update alert! Beep beep beep!
Dying Angel1: At least I'm not as evil as Voldemort! That guy is just one sick bastard.
Makalani Astral: Haha...At least it's interesting and not boring.
HecateDeMort: Yay!
moonypadfoot: dances Yup, I know I'm evil and I'm damn proud of it. But hey, look, no evil cliffhanger this time.
Hrei-siesn: Shh, be very quiet, I'm hunting errors! Heh, yea, I do have to make a run through of some of the chapters soon and get rid of those. Yea, no rape. Bleck, hate it a lot.
Hrei-siesn: As for the death eater female thingy, yea, I remembered that as soon as I put the chapter up. Cough Have to fix that sooner or later too...
Hrei-siesn: Ya know, those Slytherins are evil people at times...okay, almost always, but especially here. The thing about her identity will be explained in not this chapter, but the next.
lillinfields: Eep! I scared someone!
Hrei-siesn: Hey! Being female entails a few things! Besides, my version is light compared to some of the stories I've seen.
Hrei-siesn: I've seen the new power/telepathy power overused way too much. Needed something different.
Hrei-siesn: 5 points to ...err, which house?
Sakura Saisaka: And you updated too! Hurrah! Just wait, I have another plot bunny jumping around in my head that wishes to get out. Muhaha. Look out, Hogwarts...
Hrei-siesn: AGH!!! Not the flame bursting llamas again! Noooooo! Heeeeeelp! Sevy save me! Haha, besides, I'm evil. Very very evil. But hey! Guess what, that was a ton of reviews! Cooool! And taking days off of life is fun. I need to do that once my long week of work is over.
M'Lady: chants Who wears short shorts, Harry wears short shorts. ends Oooh, as for the mark thing, I didn't get around to explaining much of it in this chapter since it's really short unfortunately. Maybe next time a bit.
Signeus: Oooh! Cool! A challenge! I shall have to take that up once I get a bit of time. My managers have decided that I'm going to work my arse off this week since no one else wants to. But hey! Insane humor can be good at times, in fact one of my friends gave me a plot bunny that doesn't want to bury itself until I write a bit on it. Oh well, I shall comply and write both when I get the chance! Oh, and thanks for the kind words!
Okay! That was a helluva lotta reviews! Cool! I love replying to reviews, so the more you leave, the more I get to answer! Now on to the short update!))
"Her mind... it isn't there. It's with Voldemort and this is something that I cannot begin to fathom on how to help." Dumbledore replied, the pain was evident in his voice. "All we can do is hope that she will be able to withstand him."
Her eyes fluttered a bit, dark light seeping in as she chanced opening them to see what was happening. Right away she could tell that whatever was going on, her body wasn't with her. Instead, she seemed to be floating aimlessly within a dark surrounding that she could only hope wasn't Voldemort's mind. Unfortunately, she was wrong.
"Sssso, Potter, we meet again, only thissss time, you're under my influence."
"Let me go."
"Oh, I really think not after I just sssspent how long attempting to get a hold of you? Inssstead I think it would be more interesssting to ssssee how long you can withssstand me before it killsss you."
"You're wrong, Tom."
"Don't call me Tom!" Voldemort screeched, the piercing voice causing Harry to wince.
"You'll never be anything more than a mere mortal with a muggle for a father."
"Ssstop that, you foolish child!" He raged, becoming more and more crazed with each thing she said.
"That's what you are, is it not? A son of a man who left his wife because he found out she was a witch."
Voldemort was seething with rage, although, he was not in control as much as he was a few moments ago. Harry sensed this easily, being in his mind, and took full advantage. She knew that the one thing he could not understand was love, and focused all her attention on every memory of the emotion she'd ever come across. Her friends, the moments with her mother just at the end, Sirius, Remus, and then used the recent memories of Severus. To Voldemort, he couldn't even begin to fathom this and reeled in pain, and in the process, casting Harry out of his mind. Satisfied for the moment, she closed her eyes and hoped to find her body soon.
"Hazel? You there? Harry?" A few different voices came from each side of her. She groaned softly as she tried to prop herself up off the bed she found herself in, and looked around. Her father was hovering over her like a mother hen; Dumbledore was looking extremely relieved to see her conscious again, Remus was smiling softly, and both Ron and Hermione were ecstatic once she opened her eyes.
"Hazel, are you alright? You've been unconscious for last three hours," Severus asked gently while running a hand through her hair.
"Where am I?"
"We moved you to my quarters as it was the closest," Remus replied, the bags under his eyes more vivid than ever.
"It was him; somehow he got me into his mind and was trying to kill my spirit. I was panicking, even if I didn't show it, and did the only thing I could. At one point the Headmaster said that love was something Voldemort couldn't comprehend, so I started throwing images and thoughts of anything that could be love at him, and finally he gave in and tossed me out of his mind. Unfortunately, I now think he might know about my dad. Those memories were the ones that did him in completely."
"Severus..."
"I understand, Headmaster. Unfortunately we are going to have to find a new way of spying on the Dark Lord now," He thought for a moment, "A way that doesn't include using my daughter's visions."
"I was afraid you were going to say that. All right, I'll bring up this new revelation at the next Order meeting. In the mean time, I'd suggest making sure young Hazel is doing well after her encounter." With that, the old man left the room.
Harry put her head back down on the pillow and stayed still for the time being. He knew, that's all she could think about. Everything they had tried so hard to keep from him, and now it was ruined. Severus sensed something was amiss and draped an arm around her shoulder, showing her it'd be all right.
"Well, think of the plus side, you can go back to being yourself now instead of a girl."
"Dad? I think he knows about the mark as well. I mean he's got to. What if he has some kind of power over it and..."
"Calm down, you're only going to hurt yourself if you keep talking a mile a minute. He may very well have some type of connection to you through the mark along with your scar, which could leave you vulnerable. For now, we'll just have to continue the Occlumency lessons to try and ward him off. And one other thing, don't let yourself get down. Spend time with your friends and just be a kid, okay?"
"Umm, until this all gets out by one of the bloody reporters, I think I'll stay like this. Don't want to be answering questions that I don't want to hear."
He smiled a bit and squeezed her shoulder before sweeping out of the room, and for a change, his robes not billowing behind. Remus did the same, although went to the couch in the other room where he planned on spending the night. Ron left and Hermione sat in a chair next to the girl's bed. Harry was definitely not in the mood to talk so put her head down again and feigned sleep.
The next morning came too soon in Harry's opinion. Rays of light broke through the castle's windows and landed directly atop her eyes and made her wake up. She grumbled loudly as she stuck her feet out and stretched. Somehow during the night the house elves must have brought her clothing for the day and found Remus had a private shower to clean up in. After stepping out fully dressed, both Hermione and Remus took a shoulder and led her out of the room and up to the Great Hall. They had suspected that she would've tried to escape on them so made sure to keep a firm hold.
The reaction at the entrance was about what they had suspected. So far only the Slytherins seemed to know as they continually gave the girl superior smirks along with throwing death glares at their Head of House. The other three houses didn't seem to sense anything wrong which was perfectly fine with Harry, as she didn't really feel like explaining anything. She sat down and let out a loud sigh and picked at the food in front of her, as she really didn't have an appetite.
Malfoy picked that moment to break the silence by swaggering over with a sneer on his face. "So, Potter, you really think you'll be able to last much longer? I mean, we just have to get rid of your family and then what's left to live for? Eh, Potter?"
Harry's eyes narrowed dangerously and drew her wand faster than Malfoy could blink, and aimed it right at his throat. "If you even dare attempt to hurt either him or my friends, I will personally kill you myself. Now, leave me alone before I hex you through the nine hells." He glared at her, but stomped off.
Malfoy knows already. Be wary of him as he's acting like something is going to happen.
That brat can be too smart for his own good at times. His father is another one who needs a good hex to the face.
How long do you figure it's going to take before your house let's this out to the public?
I'd say tomorrow by the latest...
Damn it all.
This year was already turning out to be hell.
((A/N: Sorry about the shortness of this chapter. I have a solid week of work coming up and I don't know when I'm going to be able to update again. Evidently now that it's summer, my managers took the liberty of giving me more hours than necessary...))